Fuel economy - Troopie

Lift-Um-Right Foot, keep under 100kph
I used just under 360 lts /2000klm towing a 20ft Caravan .
Plus you must take into account the amount of dollars you will lose as a trade in, the extra $$$$ for another vehicle, you would be better of keeping it , you have a vehicle that has an engine that will last 700.000 plus, I would consider that alone as compensation for a slightly less fuel economy over something that will give a better fuel economy but will break down in the middle of the SD with 200,000 on the odometer.
KEEP IT ....AND STOP THE WHINGIN'

As Doug said, drop the speed to 95-105 max, don't cart stuff you don't need when commuting (if it is used for same), the standard narrower 235x16 or 7.50x 16 in a less aggressive pattern will give you better economy than wide muddies, (approx 2mpg in my experience).
Drive it like a light truck(which is what it is!) rather then like a car. Slow acceleration and gentle braking and accept the lower speed on the hills you can get down to 13l/100k if you try. The best economy I ever got was around this figure on outback dirt roads where speed is in the 75 - 85 k region.

Steve,
I have an 80 series 1997 petrol. I tow a 20ft Kedron. My petrol consumption sometimes makes my eyes water, particularly when climbing the ranges. But when talking to fellow drivers about fuel consumption I sometimes wonder about the fantastic performance reults they seem to get.

The mechanic tells me the car is in good nick. It is 1997 model and has just gone past the 200k mark. Shortly need to replace the radiator which is showing signs of age. By staying ahead of the maintenance and trying to anticipate future parts replacements we get by without a lot of heartache. Truth is the vehicle has never let us down in any way.

As a trade in, the reality is the vehicle has very little value and to my way of thinking why should I throw away a perfectly good vehicle. Replacement outlay for a similar new vehicle would set me back some $40k plus. I have not investigated or thought out this figure but I reckon I am not far out.

This is not an answer to your question but I go thru the same process myself from time to time and end up just leaving my wallet in my pocket.
Jim

Steve,
What sort of economy are you getting?

I have a 105 with a 1HZ and has always got 13.5/15l per 100k, regardless on how its driven,up to 100kph!
Crossing the Simpson desert it was loaded to 3.5 ton and used 110 liters for the 600k journey.
Best I have ever got was 970k's on 125 liters and did nothing special, perhaps fuel quality play's a big part
Shane

Doug's right hit your right foot with a hammer so when you push on the go pedal it hurts,

These are figures from a trip I did this year which inclued a lot of dirt and some scrub, steep and rocky.

Troopcarrier with 6.5l V8 diesel loaded with 2 people running 285 75 16s @ 35PSI on bitumin and 28PSI on long dirt runs.

837k 12.9l/h
621k 12.7l/h
792k 12.75l/h
451k 13.65l/h
684k 13.8l/h
594k 13.6l/h

These are deadset correct figures no polly has got a hold of them

Do it easy the Ape.

Steve,
As others have said, keep the speed below 100km./hr and you will find a big difference.Ihave had a few Troopys over the years and wouldn't change them for anything.The savings on low cost maintenence and reliability more than compensates for a little extra fuel.Iget an average 7.5 km/l without towing and average 6.4km/l towing the loaded camper trailer(1.1t)

You have one of the most reliable vehicles ever built, why change it? The bit of extra diesel you use is far outweighed by the trouble free use you will get out of the Troopie.

Dick
in Phuket

I have just returned from a trip around NSW, fully laden including a roof rack in my 2005 79 Troopy and consistently got 700km plus from each tank. I kept the speed low and avoided rapid acceleration, as other writers are suggesting. I was VERY happy with these figures. I know that if I get heavy footed then these figures evaporate!!

Hi Steve

I too think about the fuel my wonderful Troopy uses at time but when you weight up the fact that you have "THE BEST" outback tourer on the market some people will tell you different
and you cant kill them with a axe and its just a bloody strong tuff truck
and the fact that it will get you there and back without breaking down and like the other guys say you cant get 500,000 plus kms out of them
the big thing is how much weight you are dragging around it understandable its going to use fuel i get about 14.5 to 16.5 lts per 100 depending on what im doing on the same desert crossing with Shane i used 106lts to do 600kms and trust me we had them loaded to the roof i thinks that pretty bloody good
i did the exhaust 2.5 inch with headers K&N air filter which did help abit and i too drive about 90kph to 95kph never go over 100kph
but the weight is the big factor get the weight off and it will go better with all the stuff i have bullbar,dual batt,roof rack ,wheel carrier,draws,sidesteps,winch,cargo barrier, 40lts water tank and with full tanks 180lts thats a lot of weight some 2900kgs plus fully loaded
you can see where im going with this my advice is for what its worth keep it you can buy a lot of fuel for what you would lose trading it in

Glenn....